Enfield No.1 Mk III SMLE

[Chase.]

Hello,
I am knew to collecting cartridge fired weapons, all my collection previously has all been civil war and earlier. Recently I picked up an Enfield No.1 Mk III SMLE it's Australian, 1944 Lithgow. It is in really nice condition, the stock is dinged and the whole rifle was clearly issued. I recently took the whole rifle down and noticed it has all matching serial numbers Pretty good for $175.

Here are my questions, is it ok to fire these? It has been inspected and is safe to fire, but is it unusual enough that I should be worried about damaging the historical integrity of it? Secondly as rifles go I have only shot blackpowder and AR-15s. The sighting on this is difficult to understand just from examining it, can someone please explain it to me? Also I have heard that unlike a modern firearm it is loaded with the magazine attached, is there any problem with loading the magazine and inserting to fire... as with a modern AR?

Thanks

 

[Robert]

is it ok to fire these?

Yes. And lots of fun

but is it unusual enough that I should be worried about damaging the historical integrity of it

Nope

The sighting on this is difficult to understand just from examining it, can someone please explain it to me?

Standard military style rear V notch leaf with post front. The leaf is marked for hundreds of yards with a slider to adjust the elevation. Unless you are really trying to hit far away targets leave it at 100 or 200 and call it a day.

Also I have heard that unlike a modern firearm it is loaded with the magazine attached, is there any problem with loading the magazine and inserting to fire... as with a modern AR?

You can load the mag out of the rifle. But they are pretty easy to load with chargers. What the Brits call stripper clips. Some folks say the feed lips of the mags are fragile but I have not had issues. The biggest issue is with the rimmed cases. They must be loaded in the correct order to avoid rim lock. The cases must be loaded into the mag, or the charger, so that the top case rim is in front of the case rim below it, so that when the bolt strips the top round it does not try to drag the second round with it.

I really love my 1941 Lithgow. Great rifle.

 

[Chase.]

Thanks!

 

[DougW]

One note on the magazine. It is designed to stay on the rifle, removing to clean the weapon only. It is easy to load singles or with the 5 round chargers as Gus said.

The Lithgow is stocked with Coachwood, which is more fragile than walnut, birch, or maple. The Aussies added reinforcing blocks and pins to the back end of the forearm to try to keep the stock from coming apart under heavy use. My Lithgow stock is so crumbley that I have never fired it, as I am afraid of the possible damage to the wood. Replacement Coachwood is impossible to get, and I have plenty of other .303 to keep me busy shooting.

You have a real prize there. I would value the rifle closer to the $250 range being all matching. If your stock is in good shape, fire away. It is a nice rifle.